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Gsimple User Manual 204 PDF
Gsimple User Manual 204 PDF
Users Manual
GSIMPLE
Simple CAD-CAM for 3 Axis Mills
Users Manual
www.gsimple.eu
Version 2.04
GSIMPLE
Users Manual
Contents
CHAPTER 1:
Getting Started
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Users Manual
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CHAPTER 1:
Users Manual
Getting Started
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Users Manual
There are four view modes in Gsimple: Top, Axonometric, Isometric South East and Isometric South
West. Drawing is possible only in Top View Mode. The View Mode may be selected throug the View Menu
Selection, the respective Side Tool Bar Buttons or the Right Mouse Button Popup Menu.
What is and what is not visible on the main screen is controlled through the View Options Dialog
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In order to...
Do What
Zoom in
Zoom out
Move the mouse with the mouse wheel (or middle button) pressed down
Left click anywhere on it. All previous selected objects will be unselected.
Depending on its type, the selected object will be colored red or blue.
Red indicates that the object has been selected as parent. A parent is an
object on which other objects may be attached. These terms are explained in
detail in the object section.
Left click anywhere on it with the SHIFT key pressed down. The selected
object will be colored blue. Previously selected objects will not be affected.
To unselect an object
To edit an object
Use the right mouse button. If the mouse points on an object a large version
of the Popup Menu will be invoked. If the mouse points outside any object a
small version will appear.
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In order to...
Press
Enter. If more than one objects have been selected Gsimple will respond with
an error message.
Del. A list with all selected objects will appear and the system will ask the user
for confirmation.
1.4 Units
Older Gsimple versions (prior to 2.04) used internally always the metric system. The user was able to choose
the units he or she wished -but they were just used for entry and drawing. This resulted in constant
recalculations -and precision loss!
Starting with version 2.04 a UserUnit has been introduced. This means the user must choose the unit
system at installation time. The first time you use gsimple, you will be presented with the following dialog
The Company and User name fields are optional. Gsimple will use these data only in the About dialog box
and report printing.
The data are stored in a file called gslogin.cfg This is also a simple text file, which you can edit through
notepad. Alternativelly, if you want to change these data you can run gslogin.exe (one of the executables
supplied with gsimple).
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Picture: DrawLine dialog with the Start and End-points arbitrary set in advance
1.6 Coordinates
Gsimple has three sets of coordinates: machine coordinates, work coodrinates and user coordinates.
The machine coordinates origin is commonly placed at the upper right corner of the machine limits. In
GSIMPLE machine coordinates are fixed and do not affect in any way the drawing or the machine code.
Work coordinates are always defined in relationship to the machine coordinates origin. The user may select
one of the 9 available in the standart g-code work coordinates (G54, G55, G56, G57, G58, G59.1, G59.2,
G59.3). The selected coordinate system must correspond to the one selected in the machine itself.
The position of the work coordinates origin is defined through the following dialog (Setup/Coordinates)
It is a good practice to set X, Y approximately at the same values as it is set on the machine itself. This will
enable you to see how your part is placed in the machine working envelop. The machine code positions are
always relative to the work coordinates origin, so they are not affected by these values.
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The At block checkbox will move your part and drawings placing the block left, lower corner at the work
coordinates origin.
User coodrinates are always defined in relationship to the work coordinates origin. All data entered during
drawing are in user coodrinates. The position of the user coordinates is defined through the following
dialog (Setup/User Coodrinates)
X,Y,Z are by default 0 -which means that the User and Work coordinates are by default identical. User
coodrinates do not affect the g-code. Normally you will set the User Coordinates origin at the lower, left
corner or the center of your part.
You may also set the user X,Y coordinates at any point through the right-mouse menu.
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CHAPTER 2: OBJECTS
There are 9 object types is Gsimple: The Block, Bulges, Pockets, Drills, Threads, Longholes,
Engravings, Simple Drawings and Fixtures.
2.1. The block
The block (stock material) is a parallelepiped with its sides always parallel to the machine axis. The block
cannot be turned or deleted. The block is normally the first object to be defined in a project.
The block is defined through the Block dialog (Setup/Block main menu selection)
Valid (positiv) data must be entered for the three block dimensions (length, witdth and height). Initially the
block is placed at the coordinates origin, but may be moved wherever the user wants through the move
command.
A block material must be selected from the supplied list. Gsimple uses the block material at compilation time
in order to select the proper tool speeds, feeds and cutting depths from the tool-library.
The last field, labeled Top in the block dialog is determining the position of the block top face in accordance
to the tool-zeroing-level.
A common practice in cnc-machining is to zero the tools on the topface of the block. In this case Top will
be set equal to 0. In same cases the tools will be zeroed on the table, the vice etc. In this cases you must
provide an accurate measurment of the distance between this level and the top face of the block.
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2.2. Bulges
A bulge is the opposite of a pocket. A pocket is an object with negative volume. A bulge has always positive
volume.
A bulge must always reside on a parent object. Since the current version (2.04) does not accept islands (a
bulge in a pocket) a bulge is allowed to reside only on the block or on another bulge.
In order to be able to draw a bulge you must have already selected its parent object as parent .
In order to facilitate the user GSIMPLE includes dialogs for the three most common bulge types -rectangular,
cylindrical and polygonal. Odd (arbitrary) shapped bulges can be composed out of any closed-line drawing.
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The dialog is devided into three parts: dimensions are entered in the upper left part, milling quality and
tolerance in the upper right part and tools to be used and milling parameters in the lower part. The left, lower
edge is the assumed to be at the intersection of the left and the lower edge and X,Y are the distances from
ther user coodrinates origin. Surface quality, chamfer, tolerance and Tools will be discussed later on.
If you try to open the rectangular bulge dialog (or any other dialog defining a bulge) with no object selected
as parent Gsimple will complain with the following message
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E. Type-in the height of the bulge, select tools (or leave the selection to Gsimple by selecting AUTO
SELECT), select the finishing quality etc and click on OK.
Bulges are colored in white (if not selected). If they are selected as parent they are colored in red. If they
are selected, but not as parent, they are colored in blue.
Gsimple Version 2.04 has a restriction in the maximum number of elements (arcs and lines) a bulge may
have and a restriction in the maximum number of bulges it can handle.
Maximum number of lines and arcs in a bulge
128
32
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Picture: An arbitrary shapped bulge with 9 elements (6 lines and 3 arcs) in Isometric SW view mode. For
clarity the block has been rendered non visible.
2.2.5 Compose and Drawing inaccuracies
Small drawing inaccuracies may prevent the conversion of a drawing into a bulge. In this case Gsimple will
respond to the compose bulge command with a message like the following:
This message means that the end point of the line or arc with ID3 does not coincide with the starting point of
line or arc with ID4.
Gsimple does not demand a precise coinsidence of these points. It can handle small deviations between
them. In this case the original points will be substituted with a new one placed in the middle of them. The
maximum allowed deviation is controlled by the CON_TOLERANCE configuration variable and may be
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changed through the Connection tolerance dialog (accessed through Edit/Connection Tolerance menu
selection)
Warning: setting the connection tolerance too high may result in part inaccuracies. Arc radius may also be
changed if an arc endpoint is corrected in order to coincide with the next endpoint.
2.2.6 Layers
Parts are in Gsimple organised into layers. All bulges in a layer have the same height, use the same tools
and will be machined to the same surface quality.
Layer 0 is the block. All bulges placed directly on the block (having the block as their parent) belong to layer
1. Bulges placed on these bulges (bulges that have any bulge of layer 1 as parent) belong to layer 2 and so
on. The maximum number of layers is restricted only by the maximum number of bulges (32 in version 2.04).
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Changes will not be visible untill you press the OK button and the dialog is closed.
When an odd shapped bulge is being edited GSIMPLE will mark all its endpoints with a yellow empty
rectangle except for endpoint 1, which will be marked with a blue empty rectangle.
If you wish to edit a rectangular, cylindrical or polygonal bulge with the odd-shapped dialog (in order for
example to change a line into an arc) you will have to explode (Modify/Explode menu selection) the bulge.
Exploding means declaring it to be non-special.
NOTE: Cylindrical bulges have two endpoints connected with two CCW arcs.
Some modification functions (for example Turn) will inavoidably explode a special shapped bulge.
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Picture: An odd-shapped bulge during editing. The labels Endpoint 1, Endpoint 2 have been added to the
picture
2.3. Pockets
A pocket is the opposite of a bulge. A pocket has always negative volume.
Pockets are colored in pink (if not selected). If they are selected as parent they are colored in red. If they
are selected, but not as parent, they are colored in blue.
Gsimple Version 2.04 has a restriction in the maximum number of elements (arcs and lines) a pocket may
have and a restriction in the maximum number of pockets it can handle.
128
64
128
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A pocket must always reside on a parent object. Legal parent objects are the block, a bulge or another
pocket. If you try to define a pocket without having already selected a parent object, GSIMPLE will respond
with an error message
In order to facilitate the user GSIMPLE includes dialogs for the two most common pocket types -rectangular,
and cylindrical. Odd (arbitrary) shapped pockets can be composed out of any closed-line drawing.
Diameter and Depth expect positiv numbers. Unlike cylindrical bulges, cylindrical pockets have no endpoints
-they are just composed out of a circle. Exploding will have no effect on a cylindrical pocket.
2.3.2 Rectangular pockets
Rectangular pockets are similar with rectangular bulges. In rectangular bulges edge radius may be 0. In
rectangular pockets it must be at least equal to the endmill radius which will be used. The rectangular pocket
dialog will not allow a zero edge radius.
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Picture: A cylindrical pocket placed into a rectangular pocket attached directly on the block
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2.4 Drills
To define a drill use the following dialog, opened through the Milling/Drill main menu selection
Diameter and depth expect positiv numbers. Center position X,Y is in user coordinates. A parent object (The
block, a bulge or a pocket) must have allready been selected in order to be able to define a drill. Chamfer
and tools will be explained later on.
2.4.1 Composing a Drill
You can convert a free drawing circle into a drill through the Compose/Drill menu selection. The command
will call up the same dialog with the circle data (dia and center pos) filled in. A parent object must be already
selected.
Picture above:Composing a drill out of a circle with diameter 10mm placed at x=25 Y=50
Picture below: A drill in Isometric view. If not selected drills are colored in pink. If selected in blue.
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2.5 Threads
To define a threaduse the following dialog, opened through the Milling/Thread main menu selection
Depth expects a positiv number. Center position X,Y is in user coordinates. A parent object (The block, a
bulge or a pocket) must have allready been selected in order to be able to define a thread. Chamfer and
tools will be explained later on.
2.5.1 Composing a Thread
You can convert a free drawing circle into a thread through the Compose/Thread menu selection. The
command will call up the same dialog with the circle data (dia and center pos) filled in. A parent object must
be already selected.
2.5.2 Thread type definition file
Thread types are loaded from the Thread.dat file. This is a simple (ascii) text file and may be edited through
notepad or any other text editor. Fields are separated with (one or more) tabs. A typical line has 6 fields and
looks like this:
THREADTYPE
M08
1.25
6.8
MM
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2.6 Longholes
A longhole is a simple, special pocket. In contrast to normal pockets GSIMPLE will never fine-mill longholes.
A longhole cannot be used as parent -this means you cannot, for example, place a drill in a longhole.
Longholes are defined through the following dialog
A parent object must have already been selected in order to be able to define a longhole.
Longholes are colored in pink when not selected or in blue when they are selected.
Picture above: A longhole with diameter 10mm, length X 20mm, length Y 20mm attached on the block (the
block is currently selected as parent)
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2.7 Engravings
You can use gsimple to engrave:
Lines
Arcs
Circles
Texts
Engravings are always attached on a parent object (the block, a bulge or a pocket). If you try to open an
engraving dialog whithout having already selected the parent object (the object which will be engraved) an
error message will appear asking you to select the parent object.
2.7.1 Line Engraving
To engrave a line use the following dialog:
The REL checkbox will change the To to Dist. In this case the X and Y entries represent distances from
the FROM postion.
Both dialogs will define an engraving line from X10.0 Y10.0 (user coodrinates) to X90.0 Y90.0
Gsimple will remember the last Engraving Width and Engraving Depth used and propose for the next
engravings we will define.
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If the radious is too small, the OK button will be disabled (pressing it will do nothing)
2.7.3 Circle Engraving
To engrave a circle use the following dialog:
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Gsimple uses a single stroke proportional (character spacing is not fixed) font for text engraving. The font is
defined in a simple text (ascii) file as a sequence of lines and arcs separated (if needed) by jumps. Nominal
character height is 12 mm. Supplied is a font file called romansfont.cfg. (Capital letters only - Sorry)
The character A, for example, is defined through the following lines:
CHARACTER
JUMPTO
LINETO
LINETO
JUMPTO
LINETO
END
A
0
4
8
2
6
10
0
12
0
5
5
The definition starts with the CHARACTER keyword, followed by the character itself and the required space
(the distance to the next character) and ends with the END keyword.
Four other keywords are related to character definition:
JUMPTO
LINETO
CWTO
CCWTO
JUMPTO and LINETO are followed by X and Y values, which represent distances from the character origin.
CWTO and CCWTO are followed by X Y and RADIOUS values. The maximum number of segments (lines,
arcs and jumps) in a character is restricted to 24.
Gsimple will resize the characters taking into account the supplied character height and the engraving
width.
Spacing (%) will scale the space between the characters. Horizontal scale (%) will compress/expand the
characters. Align refers to horizontal alignment and may be set to Left, Right or Centered.
The maximum number of texts Gsimple can handle (both engravings and simple, on screen texts) is 128.
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Picture: Text engraving examples. Please note the second line from above: A negative Hor.Scale will result
in text reversal
Gsimple will engrave arcs using small lines (otherwise compretion/expansion would not be possible). Two
configuration variables controll how many lines are going to be used.
NCHRARCSEG (Nominal Character Arc Segment) is the arc length, measured in degrees, corresponding to
a single line. The default value is 6 degrees.
Example
The left parenthesis ( is defined in romansfont.cfg by the following lines
CHARACTER (
JUMPTO
2
CWTO
2
END
4
0
12
10
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In the original gsimple files there is a second (very primitive) font definition file called stdfont.cfg. Font
download is controlled by the FONT confiiguration variable (in gsimple.cfg file)
The line
FONT ROMANSFONT.CFG
will load the charcters defined in the file romansfont.cfg. The line
FONT STDFONT.CFG
will load the charcters defined in the file stdfont.cfg. The line
FONT MYFONT.CFG
will load the charcters defined in the file myfont.cfg. The file myfont.cfg must be placed in the same folder
with the executable file (gsimple.exe).
Picture: Using stdfont.cfg. The % is not displayed because it has not been defined in stdfont.cfg
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Picture: Free drawing line dialog. The dialog is similar to the line engraving dialog.
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2.9 Fixtures
Fixtures are simple rectangular areas on the screen. They are ignored at compilation time, so they do not
affect in any way the machine code.
Fixtures are defined through the following dialog
When they are not selected fixtures are colored in dark orange
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Steel
120
400
Fields are tab separated and they have the following meaning:
Field Meaning
Example
Group.Subgroup number
1.1
Group name
Steel
Subgroup name
Hardness (min)
120 (N/mm2)
Strength (max)
400 (N/mm2)
Field 4 and 5 are there for your information only, they are not used by gsimple, but must have a value,
eitherwise gsimple will complain at load time.
The standart material groups and subgroupes used by gsimple is listed in the table in the next page.
You may edit this file if you want, or even rewrite it completely in order to use any other set of material
groups and subgroupes you like -although it is not recomended.
3.2 Materials
There is a material list in gsimple, accessible through the Tools/Materials menu selection and the following
dialog. Materials are just synonyms for a group and subgroup.
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Subgroup
(min)
N/mm2
(max)
N/mm2
Steel
120
400
1.2
200
700
1.3
250
850
1.4
Alloy Steel
250
850
1.5
350
1200
1.6
250
850
2.2
Austentic
250
850
2.3
Ferritic+Austentic,Feritic, Martensitic
300
1000
Lamellar graphite
150
500
3.2
Lamellar graphite
300
1000
3.3
200
700
3.4
300
1000
Titanium unalloyed
200
700
4.2
Titanium alloyed
270
900
4.3
Titanium alloyed
350
1250
Nickel unalloyed
150
500
5.2
Nickel alloyed
270
900
5.3
Nickel alloyed
350
1200
Copper
100
500
6.2
B-Brass, Bronze
200
700
6.3
w-Brass
200
700
6.4
470
1500
100
350
7.2
Al alloyed Si<0.5%
150
500
7.3
Al alloyed 0.5%<Si<10%
120
400
7.4
120
400
550
1700
1.1
2.1
3.1
4.1
5.1
6.1
7.1
8.1
Stainless steel
Cast Iron
Titanium
Nickel
Copper
Aluminium Magnesium
Synthetic Materials
Thermoplastics
8.2
Thermosetting plastics
8.3
9.1
Hard Materials
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Cermets (metal-ceramics)
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To add a new material press the NEW button, type in the material name, choose the group/subgroup it
belongs to and press the OK button.
Note: In previous versions the material list could only be changed by editing the material.dat file. From
version 2.04 on, the files material.dat, tools.dat and toolmat.dat have been replaced by a single database file
called gsdb.csv. This is a tab separated ascii file. You may view its contents with notepad or a spreadsheet
application like excel or calc. DO NOT MAKE ANY CHANGES OR SAVE THE FILE ON EXIT!
3.3 Tool types
There are 11 different tool types in Gsimple.
Centerdrills
Drills
Taps
Thread mills
Endmills, rough
Endmills, fine
Facemills, rough
Facemills, fine
Chamfering tools
Engraving tools
Special tools
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The tool library is open -that means you are free to define your own tools, edit or delete them.
For every one of the 11 tooltypes there is a specialised set of dialogs. Below you can see, as an example,
the dialogs used to define the geometry data for a tap (thread cutting tool)...
If you try to use a tool for which no milling data have been defined for the block material gsimple will label it
UNSUITABLE and ignore it at compilation time.
The maximum number of characters for a tool name is restricted to 40. Special characters (such as ! @ #
% ) are not allowed in tool names. Blanks are internally converted into underscores (_). This means,
undersores will be seen as blanks, the next time you open the tool library. The maximum number of tools that
the library can store is 4096.
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To define a new tool press the New button. Gsimple will open up a new dialog:
Try to use small names when defining a new tool. A good practice is to use meaningfull names -for example
FM21R2 for a FaceMill, 21mm dia, for Rough finishing with 2 Flutes. All data are in user units. The Dead
Zone diameter is the distance between the inserts. Diameter, length and flutes are obvious. The description
is restricted to 256 characters. This is a usefull field for storing, for example, the tool manufacturer or the type
of the inserts used.
Example
As an example we will add a rough milling face mill with the following data to the library:
Tool type:
Tool diameter:
Tool length:
Flutes:
Dead Zone:
Pressing the OK button will add the new facemill to the library.
The geometry data of the new tool (FM40R6) have now been defined. But the tool is still unusable because
we have not provided yet any milling data.
Milling data are, as mentined before, material dependend. The tool library may store for a given tool a set of
milling parameters for every material group/subgroup pair. Of caurse we do not need to do this, we will just
define a set of parameters for the material group/subgroups we are going to use it.
In our example we assume that we are going to use it with ST37-2 as block material. St37-2 belongs to
group/subgroup 1.2, so we are going to define data just for this type of material.
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In order to efine the Milling Data we select the tool and then press the (Material Data) Mat.Data button:
In order to add milling data for a given material group we press the Add button. A list with the availiable
material groups will be presented (see picture on the next page).
We select from the list Material Group 1.2 CASE CARBURIZING STEEL. Now there are three data fields that
we have to fill. The Speed field, measured in RPM (Rounds per minute), the Feed field measured in user
units (mm/min or inch/min) and the maximum cutting depth measured in user units (mm or inch).
These data are normally provided by the manufacturers -either directly through charts and tables or (most
commonly) indirectly through the Cutting Speed and the Feed per tooth data.
Approximate data and calculation formulas may be found in almost all machining handbooks. In our example
I will use the data provided by the Mechanical and Metal Trades Handbook, published by Verlag Europa
Lehrmittel, Nourney, Vollmer GmbH & Co.KG, Dusselberger Strasse 23, 42781 Haan-Gruiter, Germany,
ISBN 13 978-3-8085-1910-3
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For Low Strength Steels the handbook gives the following data:
Cuting Speed (Vc):
Feed per tooth (ft):
50 100 mm/min
0.05 0.15 mm
Press OK to store the data in the database (they will NOT be permanently stored until you exit gsimple)
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The application will ask for confirmation, warning you that this action will first delete all entries from the
database and then import material and tool data from the old files (material.dat, tool.dat and toolmat.dat).
Gsimple will look for these files in the program directory. If they are not found no tool will be imported.
As mentioned before, changes in the tool database will not be stored on the disk untill you exit gsimple. In
case of an upload of an earlier version the user will be asked, at exit, for confirmation.
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Additionaly, if your machine uses a dialect of the standart G-Code or any other equivalent language you
will need a set of postproccesor rulles -but this topic will be discussed later on.
4.1 Defining the project filename
This is simply done with the File/Save or the File/Save As menu selections. The standart extension used for
gsimple project files is .gsi
Gsimple project files are simple text files. This means you are able to open them with notepad -BUT DO NOT
EDIT THEM, unless you are sure what you are doing.
A version 2.04 gsimple project file looks something like this
# GSIMPLE SCRIPT FILE
# www.gsimple.eu
$66 2.04
$65 0 INFO
$127 MM
$85 VF0
$12
$1 1
$2 noname.cnc
$58 1
$95 3 2.85312 543.75846 116.88111 124
$5 0 -350.000 -300.000 0.000
$96 0.000 0.000 0.000
...
...
$21 ON
$92 ON
$36 OFF 200.000 500 2 50.000
$41 OFF 3.000
$82 ON 150
$91 OFF
$125 OFF
$50 AUTO
$11 10 EM10R2 0 0.00000 0.00000
$11 11 DHCo05 0 0.00000 0.00000
$3 1 200.00000 100.00000 10.00000 0.00000 0.00000 -10.00000 0 0 -1
$4 ST37-2
$28 0.00000 0
$20 2 1 80.00000 80.00000 10.00000 110.00000 10.00000 10.00000 0.00000 0 0 -1 0 0
$24 3 1 80.00000 10.00000 50.00000 50.00000 0.00000 0 0 -1 0
$128
Lines starting with # are comments. All other lines (exept for blanks) start with a $ sign followed by the
command number, followed by the command parameters. Some should be obvious:
The line
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$127 MM
for example means that this project was saved in a system using MM as user unit. The line
$4 ST37-2
means that the block material is ST37-2 -and so on. Some others are complicated. The line
$95 3 2.85312 543.75846 116.88111 124
for example determines the viewing parameters (TOP, ISOMETRIC SE, ISOMETRIC SW or AXONOMETRIC), the
viewpoint, the zoomfactor and a number (124) coding what is visible and what not.
As a test, you can change the view-type number (the first number after $95) to 4 or 5 -these numbers correspond to front
and sideview (an undocumented feature of version 2.04).
A list of all gsimple commands used in the configuration file, the material and tool data base, the font definition files, the
thread definition files etc (gsimple uses the same syntax in all its files) can be found in Appendix I
In order to facilitate the users we have included some additional usefull informations in the Project Dialog.
You may leave them blank if you wish. Fields left blank will not appear in the Printed Report (discussed later
on in this manual)
You can define default values for the G-code program number and the G-code filename through the
configuration file (gsimple.cfg). To edit this file (using notepad) select Setup/Configuration from the main
menu.
In order to change the defaults edit the following lines in gsimple.cfg:
# Default output file (the file where the G-Code program will be stored)
GCFILE noname.cnc
# Default program number
PROGRAM 1
You will have to restart gsimple in order to activate these changes.
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Example:
If the Output file is noname.cnc and the program number 1 gsimple will store, at compilation, the gcode in a
file called noname.cnc. The first lines of the file will look something like this:
Besides the Outupt file and the Prgram Number the only other field that will affect the output is the Machining
Center field but this will be discussed later on, in the postprocessor section.
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An example of an end part can be seen on the picture above consisting of: a Block 150x100x30mm, a
rectangular Bulge 50x100x20 attached on the block, a cylindrical pocket with 80 mm diameter and 10 mm
deep attached on the block and a rectangular pocket 40x80x30 mm with 10mm edge radii attached on the
rectangular bulge.
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To attach a tool:
I. Select a tool slot by clicking on its line
II. Press the Attach button.
Now you will be able to select any of the tools stored in the tool data base. If there is no milling data entry for
the selected tool and the block material you will get a Unsuitable message in the remarks column.
TCS means Through the spindle coolant. If your machine is provided with a through the spindle cooling
mechanism and there is a provision for that in the tool you can select this feature. The button functions as a
toogle: pressing it with the TSC set OFF will turn it ON and vis-a-versa.
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Example: attaching 8mm dia rough milling end mill in tool slot T1.
III. Select the tool type
IV. Select the desired tool
V. Press OK
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the toolholder the selection is not any more obvious. And the same will happen if you attach both a rough
milling end mill and a rough milling face mill. Which one should gsimple choose for a cylindrical pocket: the
end mill or the face mill?
The answer depends on your preferences, expressed through the following configuration variables:
CONTURING
BORING
THREADING
The CONTURING variable controlls the automatic selection of tools for non cylindrical pockets.
Its syntax is
CONTURING <FACEMILL> | <ENDMILL> [<ENDMILL> | <FACEMILL>]
which means that it must have at least one argument -the word FACEMILL or the word ENDMILL (values in
<> must be entered as they are typed) and may have a second argument containing the same words.
The command CONTURING FACEMILL means that Gsimple will look only for facemills for rough milling
bulges and (non cylindrical) pockets.
The command CONTURING ENDMILL means that Gsimple will look only for endmills.
The command CONTURING FACEMILL ENDMILL means that Gsimple will look for facemills and endmills
but will prefer facemills.
The command CONTURING ENDMILL FACEMILL means the opposite - Gsimple will look for facemills and
endmills but will prefer endmills.
The BORING variable controlls the automatic selection of tools for cylindrical pockets. The syntax is identical
to the CONTURING command:
BORING <FACEMILL> | <ENDMILL> [<ENDMILL> | <FACEMILL>]
The THREADING variable controlls the automatic selection of threading tools. The syntax is
THREADING <TAP> | <THREADMILL> which means that it will accept only one argument.
In some cases even then the selection will not be obvious. For example you may have attached two rough
milling endmills. In this case gsimple will try to use the one with the largest possible diameter. Possible
means, for example, that it will not pick up a 20 mm dia endmill if your pocket contains closed arcs with
radii smaller than 10 mm. And it will not select a 20 mm dia endmill even if there are no small arcs if it can
not plunge into the block and there is no drill big enough to predrill an appropriate insertion hole.
4.5.2 Manual Tool assignment
In some cases you will want to choose the tools which are going to be used for a specific job yourself. This
can be done for most of the object types, that is for
- initially milling down the block top face
- bulges
- pockets
- drills
- taps
In version 2.04 there is no manual tool selection for longholes and engravings.
The tool selection is done through the Object Dialog. In the following picture a 3 fluted, 8 mm Dia end mill is
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being manualy selected as the rough milling tool for a rectangular pocket.
Gsimple will let you choose an unappropriate tool for a job -but will warn you and asc you for confirmation.
But will not let you select a tool which is too short or its diameter is two big for the job.
4.5.3 Selecting individual milling parameters
Generally the milling parameters (speeds, feeds and cuts) are read in from the library data. In the case of
automatic tool selection there is no way to change this. But gsimple will let you select individual milling
parameters for every individual task if you have manualy preselected a tool for this job.
To change the milling parameters:
I. Select the object by clicking on it
II. Select Edit/Milling Params from the main menu
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Press the Copy library data to individual button to get a copy of tha data stored in the data base in the
second coloumn (which may be edited).
To select the (edited) data in the second column, labeled individual click the corresponding Use click-box
and press OK. To return back to the library data select the click-box under the first column (labeled Library)
and press OK.
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CHAPTER 5: COMPILATION
To compile the project (make the G-Code) select G-Code/Make from the main menu
If there are no warnings and no errors G-Simple will respond with a Make Report - a message like this
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All entries are in UserUnits. Most of the above fields and checkboxes are obvious. Only the non obvious will
be discussed here.
Fast block approch height is used in drilling and taping and is the equivalent of the R-Plane in
G-Code. For example, if Fast block approach heigth is 3 the drilling outup command will become
G81 R3.000 Z-25.000 F85.000
Go X,Y at tool change will be used with large object to avoid a colision between the tool and the
object during toolchange. Gsimple will fisrt move to the ordered x,y position and then change tool.
Filter-out out-of-block paths is a powerfull filter which will eliminate from the G-Code slow
running G01 paths, which are placed out of the block. This is very usefull if you just want to mashine
just one part of an object (for example round the left edge of a long plate)
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Excess material removal controlls whether gsimple will provide a path just around the shape or
will also mill away what would otherwise be left over on the block. The default setting is ON.
Example: A block 100x100x10 mm with a cylindrical bulge 60mm Dia x 10 mm height in the middle. Excess
material removal is enabled. Below the same example with excess material removal disabled.
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Drill cleaning: If enabled Gsimple will raise the driil to Distance above corridor and then turn it
counterclockwise for some seconds and then stop. The procedure will be repeated as many times as
you have determined.
Finishing: You can select between three options: fine finish vertical faces (with a special finishing
tool), fine finish horizontal faces (with a special tool) or rough finishing of horizontal faces.
Rough finishing horizontal faces: If enabled, Gsimple will use the same tool which it has used for
rough milling to finish the horizonal faces with speeds and feeds altered according to the
parameters on the Make Options Dialog.
Imporatnt Note: You can select the finishing quality individually for every object through its individual dialog.
For example, you can disable finishing for the project but select fine finishing of verical faces for a
cylindrical pocket (for fitting a ball bearing,for example).
If you disable excess material removal finishing of any horizontal face will be canceled -even if you
have selected it.
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You must attach a 90 deg countersink (chamfering tool) on the toolholder to use this function.
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CHAPTER 6: ANIMATION
6.1 Running the compiled code
You can test the G-Code on screen through the G-Code/Run menu selection. Please note that this selection
will be greyed untill you have succesfully compiled your project.
G-Code/Run will open up the following dialog:
Pressing the Run Button will execute one line after the other with a time delay controlled by the Fast and
Slow buttons. The nominal delay is 100 milliseconds (0.1 sec). Pressing the Pause button will stop the
animation. You can restart the animation by pressing again the Run button. The Single button will execute
the next step.
You can start the execution from any part of the code -but you will get an error if no Program command
(0nnnn) has been executed.
Fast moves are colored red. Milling moves are colored yellow. You can run the code in any view mode (top,
isometric SE, isometric SW or axonometric).
The moves are not permanently drawn on the screen. Any action which forces the window to be redrawn (for
example moving another window in front of it, moving it, minimizsing it etc) will delete them.
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If your project has not been compiled succesfully you will be asked whether you want to run anyway the
existing file. If it is found it will be uploaded and run.
6.2 Running your own code
In version 2.04 you can upload your own code and run it on the screen through the G-Code/Load & Run
menu selection.
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Function
Draw Line
Draw/Draw Line
Draw Circle
Draw/Draw Circle
Draw Arc
Draw/Draw Arc
Draw Rectangle
Draw/Draw Rectangle
Draw Polygon
Draw/Draw Polygon
Draw Eclipse
Draw/Draw Eclipse
Draw Text
Draw/Draw Text
Offset
(None)
Trim
(None)
Group
Draw/Group
Ungroup
Draw/Ungroup
Group Manager
(None)
Delete
Modify/Delete
Move
Modify/Move
Copy
Modify/Copy
Turn
Modify/Turn
Mirror
Modify/Mirror
Scale
Modify/Scale
Import DXF
File/Import DXF
Export DXF
File/Export DXF
Top View
View/Top View
Isometric SE View
View/Isometric SE
Isometric SW View
View/Isometric SW
Zoom fast in
View/Zoom/Zoom fast in
Distance
Draw/Distance
Snap settings
Draw/Snap settings
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Section
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Functions
New project
Open project
Save project
Print report
File/New
File/Open
File/Save
File/Print report
Project Setup
Block Setup
Coodrinates
User Coordinates
Toolholder
Setup/Project
Setup/Block
Setup/Coordinates
Setup/User Coodrinates
Setup/Toolholder
Milldown top
Rectangular bulge
Cylindrical bulge
Polygonal bulge
Compose bulge
Shape/Topface
Shape/Rectangular bulge
Shape/Cylindrical bulge
Shape/Polygonal bulge
Compose/Bulge
Rectangular pocket
Cylindrical pocket
Longhole
Compose pocket
Drill
Compose Drill
Thread
Compose thread
Milling/Rectangular pocket
Milling/Cylindrical pocket
Milling/Longhole
Compose/Pocket
Milling/Drill
Compose/Drill
Milling/Thread
Compose/Thread
Engrave line
Engrave circle
Engrave arc
Engrave text
Compose engraving
Engrave/Line
Engrave/Circle
Engrave/Arc
Engrave/Text
Compose/Engraving
Undo
Redo
Attach
Milling Parameters
Edit
Edit/Undo
Edit/Redo
Modify/Attach
Edit/Milling Params
Edit/Edit
Make G-Code
View G-Code
Transfer G-Code
Make Options
Run
G-Code/Make
G-Code/View
PostProc/Transfer
G-Code/Make Options
G-Code/Run
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$n
Command
Syntax
$0
INCLUDE
INCLUDE filename
filename is the path to the file you want to include
$1
PROGRAM
PROGRAM [O]program-number
program-number is a number ranging from 1 to 99999
the 'O' is optional (for compatibility with older versions)
$2
GCFILE
GCFILE g-code-filename
g-code-filename is the name of the file where gsimple is going to store the gcode
$3
BLOCK
$4
MATERIAL
MATERIAL material_name
material_name is a name from the material list. It is a synonym for a material
group/subgroup
$5
COORDINATES
$6
LIBRARY
$7
(NOT USED)
$8
TABLE
TABLE wx wy x y [UNITS]
wx,wy are the dimensions of the machining center table
x, y is the position of the bottom, left table corner measured from the machine origin.
UNITS are either MM or INCH. If omited UU is supposed
$9
HTSLOTS
$10
VTSLOTS
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$12
PART
PART partname
partname is a string
$13
PROJECT
PROJECT project_name
$14
DESCRIPTION
DESCRIPTION description
$15
RBULGE
$16
BULGE
$17
END
END
$18
CBULGE
$19
POLYGON
$20
RPOCKET
$21
COMMENTS
$22
DRILL
$23
THREAD
$24
BORE
$25
(not used)
$26
LONGHOLE
LONGHOLE ID PID D H DX DY X Y
$27
$28
TOPFACE
Topface tf [scan]
Mill down topface by tf
tf in UU
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$30
(not used)
$31
LINETO
LINETO X Y
$32
CCWTO
CCWTO X Y R
$33
CWTO
CWTO X Y R
$34
(not used)
$35
(not used)
$36
CLEANDRILLS
$37
USE
$38
FIXTURE
$39
DELAY
$40
OBJECTID
$41
CENTERDRILLING
$42
BORING
$43
CONTURING
$44
WORKSPACE
$45
USER
$46
HTMLVIEW
$47
HELP
$48
EDIT
EDIT path
path is the full path to your prefered text editor (used for editng the configuration file
and the g-code file)
$49
(NOT USED)
$50
TOOLCHANGE
$51
CHARACTER
$52
JUMPTO
$53
ENG_TEXT
$54
INFO_TEXT
$55
TEXTSIZE
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DWGEDITOR path
path is the full path to your CAD system. For example
DWGEDITOR c:\Program Files\A9TECH\A9CAD\a9cad.exe
$57
DWGFILE
$58
NOOFPARTS
$59
ENG_CLA
$60
INFO_CLA
$61
QUALITY
$62
PROGSTART
PROGSTART string
The string will be inserted in the gcode, directly after the program-number line and the
introductory comments. The ^ character will be interpreted as a new line character.
$63
PROGEND
PROGEND string
The string will be inserted in the gcode, at the end of the file. The ^ character will be
interpreted as a new line character.
$64
MAGIC
MAGIC magic_number
magic_number is the number 65918042
Used in older versions to distinguish valid project files and prevent the user from
opening a file meant for another application.
Not used any more. Retained for backward compatibility.
$65
(not used)
$66
VER
$67
RPLANE
$68
QPLANE
$69
OVERLAP
$70
RFOVERLAP
$71
FFOVERLAP
$72
FFDZ
$73
FFDXY
$74
RFDZ
$75
RFSOR
$76
RFFOR
$77
MINBTXD
$78
DFTLEX
$79
THREADTYPE
$80
THREADING
$81
CDDEPTH
$82
PECKDRILL
$83
CLIENT
$84
FONT
$85
CNC
$86
OPERATOR
OPERATOR operatotr_name
$87
COMPANY
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COMPANY_LOGO
$89
COMPANY_IMG
COMPANY_IMG path
$90
TOOLHOLDER
TOOLHOLDER number_of_tools
61
Defines the number of tool slots for the specific machine. The maximum number is 99
$91
OPTIMISE
$92
LABELING
$93
TMEFF
$94
TRANSFER
$95
VIEW
$96
UCOORDS
$97
BACKGROUND
$98
SNAPSETTINGS
$99
MPARAM_X
$100
MPARAM_F
$101
MPARAM_D
$102
MPARAM_TC
$103
MPARAM_TM
$104
DEFINE
$105
NCHRARCSEG
$106
CHRARCSEGCOR
$107
MOVE
$108
SELECT
$109
UNSELECT
$110
TURN
$111
SCALE
$112
MIRRORX
$113
MIRRORY
$114
DELETE
$115
MSG
LABELING ON | OFF
MSG message
message is any string upto 128 characters long. The message will appear in a
message box immidiately on the screen when it is loaded.
$116
UNDO
UNDO
$117
REDO
REDO
$118
CON_TOLERANCE
$119
REVERSE
$120
(not used)
$121
DEFCLAGROUP
$122
DELCLAGROUP
$123
ADDCLAGROUP
$124
REMCLAGROUP
$125
EXCESSMR
EXCESSMR ON | OFF
$126
USERUNIT
USERUNIT MM | INCH
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PROJECTUNIT
PROJECTUNIT MM | INCH
$128
ENDOFFILE
ENDOFFILE
$129
MULTI_G_LINES
MULTI_G_LINES ON | OFF
$130
NUM_C_LINES
NUM_C_LINES ON | OFF
$131
DEFTOOL
$132
DEFTOOLMAT
$133
DEFMAT
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